In a painstaking four-night operation using two cranes, the first section of stairway, three lengths of bridge deck and 10 support cables were manoeuvred into place to span Cumbernauld's Central Way dual carriageway.

The £1.2million 40-metre footbridge, funded by redevelopment firm Campsies Centre (Cumbernauld) is the latest in a number of schemes to revitalise the town.

In January, Tummel Bridge – the previous rusting and disused covered walkway – which linked Cumbernauld Shopping Centre with the Antonine Centre was demolished.

A spokesman for Campsies Centre, said: "We expect the bridge to be completed towards the end of May.

"Central Way had to be closed over four nights to allow the work to go-ahead and the whole operation went as smoothly as we had hoped.

"The replacement bridge looks fantastic and will become a real landmark for the town as well as fulfilling a very practical need for a full circuit to link all three shopping malls."

The old walkway's "hideous" design contributed to Cumbernauld being awarded the Carbuncle prize, the UK's least coveted architectural award, twice.

It had been closed since 2004 because of vandalism and structural problems.

Earlier this year, in a 14-hour operation, Tummel Bridge was removed to make way for the new link over the town's Central Way.

Work to remove the 40-metre span took longer than planned after engineers discovered the bridge's concrete decking was far thicker than expected.

A special remote-controlled drilling machine was brought into break up the concrete with the steel elements being recycled.

Shoppers will soon not need to make a 10-minute detour to get from one side of the town centre to the other.

stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk